Earlier this month National Links Trust took over operation as the long-term lessor of the three golf courses on National Park Service land in Washington D.C., East Potomac Park, Langston & Rock Creek Park. This project, which has justifiably garnered a tremendous amount of excitement not just locally but nationally, has years of work ahead has only just gotten started.
National Links Trust was founded by Will Smith & Mike McCartin, the latter of which was the inaugural guest on this podcast back in June before the National Park Service had chosen a winning bid to operate the courses. With NLT in place as the operator, we sat down with Will Smith to learn about the bidding process, more details on their plans, the timeline of work ahead & his journey in golf that has led him to help lead this project.
0:00 Intro 5:54
National Links Trust’s Bid 13:49
Will Smith’s Background 17:26
Smith’s Previous Projects 19:09
The Outpost Club 23:50
The Outpost Foundation 25:46
Outpost Club 27:16
Private vs Public 28:47
NLT’s New Projects 37:08
Changes to East Potomac 41:46
Clubhouse Changes 44:25
Troon Management 47:45
Public Golf in DC 50:13
National Links Trust Mission/Future
Listen below or click here to watch!